Cosatu sets conditions for ANC

Johannesburg - Labour federation Cosatu on Saturday reaffirmed its support for the ANC but said it would not support leaders who are corrupt.

Tensions between the ANC and its labour ally Cosatu have increased in recent months as Cosatu has been angered at the government's refusal to implement more left-leaning policies including an expansive fiscal policy and looser monetary policy.

At a celebration rally to mark the union's 25th anniversary, Cosatu president Sidumo Dlamini said the federation wanted to strengthen the alliance and would continue to push for a "fundamental transformation" of ANC policies.

"The tensions in the alliance are often not caused by policy difference but by lack of political will by government to implement ANC and alliance resolutions and the manifesto," he said.

Cosatu called state workers out on a strike in August that lasted nearly a month and ended with the government agreeing to wage increases of double the rate of inflation.

Relations between the two sides were further strained when Cosatu secretary general Zwelinzima Vavi said the union would not support corrupt leaders in municipal elections next year, raising speculation the union might form its own political party and contest the elections.

The ANC needs Cosatu's vote-gathering ability, especially among the poor, to retain control of many cities and provinces in the municipal polls in Africa's largest economy.

Dlamini said on Saturday that Cosatu support for the ANC, which has ruled since the end of apartheid in 1994, was not unconditional.

"(We) have said that we will not give the ANC a blank cheque and will refuse to campaign or support candidates known to be corrupt or lazy," he said.

"Yes, at times we have disagreements with the ANC government and we even march against them when necessary. But no other party could have imagined achieving as much as the ANC government has," he added.

SA holds municipal elections every five to six years